TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE BOOKS EVER SOLD AT AUCTION

If you want to buy a book, go to a bookstore or buy the book through an online shop.Then you usually lose a few to a few tens.But did you know that books were also sold for millions of dollars?Of course, these are not the standard books of this time.No, these are books with world-famous titles, which are already ancient.These are the original copies, the first-printed books and / or books with little of (remaining), mostly written by world-renowned writers or made by artists.These are the top 10 most expensive books ever sold at auction.On some books after they are still (newly printed) for sale at the store, but so for slightly less money!)

10. Les Liliacées of Pierre-Joseph Redouté ($ 5,000,000)

Translated into Dutch, this is the book ‘De Lelies’ by Pierre-Joseph Redouté.It is a book full of blueprints, made at the intersection of art and science.By the end of the 18th century, early 19th century Pierre-Joseph Redouté was the lawyer of King Marie-Antoinette and Emperor Joséphine.During this period, he planted plants in the gardens of Malmaison and the Jardin des Plantes in Paris.Books were made.By Napoleon Boneparte his books were given to the princes of Europe.This particular specimen was sold at an auction in 1985 for $ 5,000,000.It is from the year 1802.

In this book is the collection of William Shakespeare’s plays .There are 36 plays in the world, including the world-famous ‘Romeo and Julia’.It is about the very first copy that was printed in the year 1623. It was sold for $ 6.1 million in 2001 at an auction.

TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE BOOKS EVER SOLD AT AUCTION

8. The Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer ($ 7,500,000)

This book is about the stories that tell thirty pilgrims when they are on their way from London to Canterbury.These people come from very different layers of society.Among others there is a knight, a student, an abdis, a divorced woman and a barbie in the 24 stories of Geoffrey Chaucer.They are alternate, moving, comical, tragic, profound and compelling.Geoffrey Chaucer was a devotee and diplomat from the 15th century.He worked for this masterpiece for 14 years, which was released in 1478. This specific book, from the first edition, was sold at an auction in 1998 for $ 11 million.

7. The Birds of America by John James Audubon ($ 11.5 million)

Physicist and painter John James Audubon made this book full of illustrations of the variety of birds in the United States.The huge book consists of hand-colored, 99-by-66 centimeter-sized plates.The backgrounds were painted by Joseph Mason.In 2012, this particular book, printed between 1827 and 1838, is one of 119 complete copies that (probably) still existed on an auction for $ 11,500,000.

6. Gospels of Henry the Lion of Saint Benedict ($ 11.7 million)

One of the oldest books in this list is ‘Gospels of Henry the Lion’ of Saint Benedict.It is from the year 1175. It is the original version and the only copy of this book.It’s not crazy that it was safe (in 1983) so much money, no less than $ 11.7 million.Until 1994 this was even the most expensive book in the world.The book was intended for Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony.It was placed for the altar of virgin Mary in the St Blais Abbeys church in Brunswick.The gospel book contains 266 pages of text about the four gospels, of which 50 pages of illustrations.The book is still in very good condition.

5. Rothschild Prayersbook ($ 13,400,000)

Between 1500 and 1520 this original copy of the ‘Rothschild Prayersbook’ was written.The book has been in the National Library of Vienna for a long time.In July 1999, the book was first sold at an auction for $ 13,400,000.Later, in 2005, it was sold again.The Australian businessman who bought it then placed it in the Australian National Library.There is still a lot to admire.The book is also called ‘Rothschilds Hours’.It is an important Flemish illustrated script composed by different artists.The prayer book consists of 254 folio’s.

4. Bay Psalm Book ($ 14,200,000)

The very first printed book of the United States is the ‘Bay Psalm Book’.That was in the year 1640. It is a English-written metrical psalter, which is a kind of Bible translation.The psalms in the book are no longer sung, the texts have changed.However, some melodies in which they were sung are still used.At an auction, this book was sold for $ 14,200,000 in the year 2013.

TOP 10 MOST EXPENSIVE BOOKS EVER SOLD AT AUCTION

3. St. Cuthbert Gospel $ 14,300,000)

The St Cuthbert Gospel is the oldest book in this top 10. It dates back to the 7th century.The unique of this book is therefore that it is one of the first ever bound books in the world.It is unknown who the writer is.The book is also called Stonyhurst Gospel.It is a gospel book written in Latin.In April 2012, this book was sold on an auction for $ 14,300,000.

2. Magna Carta ($ 21,300,000)

The original copy of the ‘Magna Carta’ was auctioned for $ 21,300,000 in 2007.The book is also called ‘Magna Carta Libertatum’.It is a charter, which was drafted in the year 1297 by the Canterbury earthquake bishop.The ‘Magna Carta’ is a charter of justice and freedoms.The treaty was signed by the king in a meadow at Runnymede, near Windsor.He had to do that of his English lords, who found that the king abused his power.With the release of this book, peace was concluded between King Jan Without Land and the insurgent borrowers.Since 2009, the ‘Magna Carta’ is a World Heritage List for documents.It is seen as a milestone in the area of ​​democracy and freedom.The book has had a global influence.

1. Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester ($ 30.8 million)

The best-selling book of all ages has been written with the ‘Codex Leicester’ dot in the 16th century by the world-renowned Leonardo da Vinci .The original and only copy of this book was sold at an auction in 1994 for a huge amount.The Codex Leicester is the notebook with scientific notes of Leonardo da Vinci.It consists of only 72 pages, but the content of these notes is of course extremely valuable, they have had a great impact on life on earth.The contradictions are among others about the light of the moon, the movement of water and fossils.The name of the manuscript comes from the very first buyer of the book: Thomas Coke.He bought it in 1717. Later he became Count of Leicester.Later, in 1980, art collector Armand Hammer bought the ‘Codex Leicester’.The book is now owned by nobody less than Bill Gates, the richest man in the world .He paid $ 30.8 million for the year 1994.Not to love for himself, he made it available in Microsoft Vista